Fuel filler door with dual hinge

Abstract

A motor vehicle body has a fuel filler neck accessible through a flanged opening in a vehicle body panel and concealed by a door adapted to fit within the opening flush with the vehicle body panel. The door is mounted by a gooseneck hinge bracket having a first end which is mounted on the vehicle body by a main pivot defining a hinge axis located beyond the edge of the door, and having an associated main spring which urges the hinge bracket to a normal position closing the door. The other end of the hinge bracket is connected to the door by an auxiliary pivot having an associated stop which limits pivotal movement of the door relative to the hinge bracket and an associated spring which normally urges the door to the closed position. Depressing the edge portion of the door causes the door to pivot about the auxiliary pivot to an extent permitted by the stop. The other end of the door is then gripped and pulled outwardly to initiate outward movement of the gooseneck hinge bracket about the main pivot until the main spring goes overcenter to hold the hinge bracket in the door open position.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a vehicle body having a fuel filler neck mounted within a flanged opening of a vehicle body panel and a door adapted to fit within the opening flush with the vehicle body panel, a hinge construction mounting the door for movement between a closed position in flush fitting relationship with the vehicle body panel to cover the filler neck and an open position uncovering the opening for access to the fuel filler neck comprising: a hinge bracket having one end connected to the vehicle body and the other end connected to the door;   main pivot means connecting the hinge bracket and the vehicle body and having associated spring means urging the hinge bracket in the direction to close the door;   auxiliary pivot means connecting the hinge bracket with the door and having associated spring means urging the door to the closed position and stop means acting to limit the pivotal movement of the door relative the hinge bracket; and   said auxiliary pivot means being located at a spaced relationship from one edge of the door so that inward pressing of that one edge of the door pivots the door about the auxiliary pivot means to open the other end of the door a limited distance defined by the stop means to enable finger gripping of the other end of the door for a subsequent further pivotal movement of the door and hinge bracket about the main pivot means to open the door.   
     
     
       2. In a vehicle body having a fuel filler neck mounted within flanged opening of a vehicle body panel and a door adapted to fit within the opening flush with the vehicle body panel, a hinge construction mounting the door for movement between a closed position in flushed fitting relationship with the vehicle body panel to cover the filler neck and an open position uncovering the opening for access to the fuel filler neck comprising: a hinge bracket;   main pivot means acting between the hinge bracket and the vehicle body to enable pivotal movement of the hinge bracket relative to the vehicle body;   a main spring acting between the vehicle body and the hinge bracket to urge the hinge bracket to a position closing the door;   an auxiliary pivot means acting between the hinge bracket and the door to enable pivotal movement of the door relative the hinge bracket;   stop means acting to limit the pivotal movement on the door relative the hinge bracket;   an auxiliary spring acting between the hinge bracket and the door and acting to urge the door to a door closed position relative the hinge bracket; and   said auxiliary pivot means being located at a spaced relationship from one edge of the door so that an inward pressing of that one edge of the door pivots the cover about the auxiliary pivot means to pop open the other end of the door a limited distance defined by the stop means to enable finger gripping of the other end of the door.   
     
     
       3. In a vehicle body having a fuel filler neck mounted within a flanged opening of a vehicle body panel and a door adapted to fit within the confines of flanged opening and flush with the vehicle body panel, a hinge construction mounting the door for movement between a closed position in flush fitting relationship with the vehicle body panel to cover the filler neck and an open position in which the cover is moved outside the opening to enable access to the fuel filler neck comprising: a gooseneck-shaped hinge bracket having a first end extending within the confines of the flanged opening for connection with the door and a second end extending beyond the confines of the flanged opening and adapted for attachment to the vehicle body behind the vehicle body panel;   main pivot means connecting the second end of the hinge bracket on the vehicle body panel outside the confines of the flanged opening to enable pivotal movement of the hinge bracket outwardly of the opening to a position in which the first end of the hinge bracket is positioned outside the confines of the flanged opening;   auxiliary pivot means connecting the door with the first end of the hinge bracket, said auxiliary pivot means providing a hinge axis spaced from that edge portion of the cover closest to the main pivot means so that inward pressing of that edge portion of the door closest the main pivot means causes pivotal movement of the door about the auxiliary pivot means to pop open the other end of the door furthest from the main pivot means; and   pivot limiting means acting between the door and the hinge bracket to limit pivotal movement of the door about the auxiliary pivot means so that a further pivotal movement of the door causes unitary pivotal movement of the door and the hinge bracket about the main pivot means to establish the door in the open position outside the confines of the flanged opening.